Essay by Pauline Yao on Chinese contemporary art scene
Jun 19th, 2009 | By Chris | Category: Random Shanghai stuff..., Recommended ReadingLinkage here, its rather long with pics…
Quotage:
The phenomenon of self-contained “art zones” such as Beijing’s 798 Art Zone are symptomatic of both a desire to segregate art from regular life and an effort to enhance its marketability by referencing its own legacy of success. In the absence of any counterpoint with which to understand this activity, contemporary art continues to be treated explicitly as a form of entertainment, a photo backdrop, or a moneymaking scheme for the burgeoning middle and upper classes. Media attention, private sponsorship, corporate ventures, and personal museums do little to counteract a growing perception that equates contemporary art with investment and market value.
